The ability of voting groups to form a recognized political party in North Carolina just got a whole lot easier. Senate Bill 656, the Electoral Freedom Act of 2017, lowers the threshold for establishing a recognized political party in a number of ways. The bill also makes it easier for unaffiliated candidates to participate in […]
Politics
The Restore Campus Free Speech Act
Four months after being overwhelmingly passed in the House, the Restore Campus Free Speech Act has become law. House Bill 527 is bipartisan ‘campus free speech’ legislation that strengthens standards for free expression in our state university system and mandates that all public universities “ensure the fullest degree of intellectual freedom and free expression.” HB527 […]
In Defense of Free Speech
Bipartisan legislation passed the House on Wednesday strengthening standards for free expression in the state university system and mandating that all public universities “ensure the fullest degree of intellectual freedom and free expression.” Currently, there are no statutes addressing free speech for the University of North Carolina (UNC) institutions. House Bill 527, modeled after the Goldwater Institute‘s policy report Campus […]
Throwback Thursday: A Little History
A few weeks ago, when the General Assembly called itself back into a special session following the passage of The Disaster Recovery Act of 2016, the legislature took up some important bipartisan reforms to North Carolina’s ethics, elections, and court systems. At the same time, another piece of bipartisan legislation, House Bill 17, was also passed […]
The Results are in on Voter ID
Officials: Voter ID Law Did Not Cause Primary Confusion State Board of Elections officials say charges that North Carolina’s new voter ID requirement led to long wait times at the polls and unnecessary confusion that harmed voters are off target. The law, requiring voters to present a state-authorized photo identification document at the polls, went […]
Legislature Approves New Map
House Delivers Contingent Congressional Map Complies with Federal Trial Court’s Ruling Today the North Carolina House of Representatives passed a bill that establishes a new Congressional map for 2016. Redistricting bills do not require the Governor’s signature; therefore, SB-2: 2016 Contingent Congressional Plan becomes law, subject to action by the U.S. Supreme Court. The measure passed 65-43. While […]